First impressions matter. Your home’s curb appeal — or lack thereof — is the first thing that people see when they pass by your house. It says a lot about you as a homeowner and an individual. Here are some of the greatest benefits you can expect from giving your home the curb appeal it deserves.
1. Boosts Your Home’s Resale Value
The best benefit of excellent curb appeal is the additional value it brings to your home. A house’s exterior attractiveness can increase its value by 7% if you renovate it in the right places. The landscaping, driveway, roofing, windows and front door spread all play essential roles in boosting your home’s curb appeal.
Even if you’re not planning to sell your Florida home right now, you should still try to maximize its value. A job opportunity or family situation might arise in the future that requires you to relocate. Keep the exterior in good condition so it’s ready for the market if your plans change.
2. Keeps the Neighborhood Friendly
Maintaining your home’s curb appeal helps you avoid petty disputes with neighbors and keeps everyone friendly with each other. It will also keep the local homeowner’s association out of your hair if you belong to one. Besides, you owe it to your community to keep your home clean and organized. Nobody wants to live near a messy neighbor.
3. Shows You’re a Responsible Homeowner
Curb appeal also demonstrates you’re a responsible homeowner to anyone who passes by. People notice little details like your lawn’s grass length or the decorations around your front door. A well-maintained exterior shows your commitment to home ownership and providing your family with a beautiful living environment.
On the flip side, poor curb appeal shows you don’t care about keeping your home in good condition. It also suggests you aren’t home often, which might make your house a target for trespassers and thieves. Maintaining your home’s curb appeal helps you avoid these types of negative attention.
4. Improves Your Home’s Functionality
Curb appeal is a practical thing too. Along with establishing a unique style, it also improves your home’s functionality in many ways. Most notably, it can enhance your home’s energy efficiency with features like draft-proof windows and doors. This factor is crucial for Florida residents who often have to use air conditioning year-round to keep their homes cool.
Other simple and affordable improvements — such as replacing the doorknobs, putting up a fence and installing additional lighting — will also make your home more functional. Curb appeal keeps things organized and lets you get the most out of your house.
5. Gives You a Sense of Pride
Lastly, giving your home the curb appeal it deserves will fill you with pride. Keeping a house in good shape isn’t easy — it takes non-stop work and attention to detail, especially in a hot and humid climate like Florida, where working outside is more taxing than usual. You could stay inside and enjoy the A/C, but you decided to stay out and improve your home’s exterior. That’s an admirable thing and you should be proud that you made the right decision.
Take Your Home’s Curb Appeal Seriously
Maximizing curb appeal is more important than most homeowners realize. It can boost the home’s resale value, improve your reputation, make your house more functional and give you a newfound sense of pride and accomplishment. If you want to reap these benefits, start taking your curb appeal seriously and get to work!
